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Rent-to-own retailers trying to change bad rep - by hiring vets

April 23, 2012

Rent-to-own furniture retailers are trying to change the reputation they have as "predatory lenders" by hiring veterans returning from war, according to a story in the Huffington Post.

Executives from Aaron's and Rent-A-Center, the two largest rent-to-own companies in the United States, met with two decorated veterans last week at the White House to discuss a veterans-for-hire initiative.

"In addition to the patriotic consideration, hiring returning soldiers makes business sense for us," Xavier Dominicis, spokesman for Rent-A-Center, wrote in an email to The Huffington Post. "They're a diverse and qualified pool of candidates benefiting from favorable attributes, a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn."

Rent-A-Center is just one rent-to-own retailer that has often courted business from military members, a strategy that many consumer advocates have said is predatory. They've alleged that the stores unfairly target service members for high-interest, high-fee transactions.

In recent years, however, the industry has worked to build a more positive relationship with the military, Dominicis told the Post. For example, Rent-A-Center has increased its support of military programs, furnishing barracks at Fort Knox and other Army garrisons as well as donating money to many military-related nonprofits such as Helping Our Heroes and Thanks USA, according to Dominicis. Neither Rent-A-Center nor Aaron's has an official veterans hiring program, but executives from both retailers are now showing support for them.

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